Enkianthus perulatus cv. `J. L. Pennock`

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Enkianthus perulatus plant named `J. L. Pennock,` which is particularly characterized by its distinctive, bright red fall coloration, and which can be readily distinguished from other Enkianthus plants by its onset of fall color development about two weeks before that of other Enkianthus perulatus plants.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the discovery and asexual propagation of a newand distinct variety of Enkianthus perulatus, a member of the Ericaceaefamily and sometimes called White Enkianthus. The new plant is ofunknown parentage. It was selected by Rick J. Lewandowski and Paul W.Meyer from among several seedlings growing in a cultivated researchcollection of Enkianthus perulatus plants at The Morris Arboretum of theUniversity of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa. The new plant was selectedparticularly because of its distinctive fall coloration. The object ofthis present invention is to provide a new variety of Enkianthusperulatus that has highly unique characteristics which lend it todecorative autumn landscaping.

The new Enkianthus perulatus plant has been named `J. L. Pennock`. `J.L. Pennock` was first asexually propagated by softwood cuttings in 1988,at The Morris Arboretum, by the plant propagator of the arboretum,Rochelle J. Dillard. Asexual propagation has further been accomplishedat the Philadelphia arboretum, and also at a nursery in West Grove, Pa.Testing has shown the `J. L. Pennock` variety maintains itsdistinguishing characteristics, as hereinafter set out, over severalsucceeding generations through asexual propagation using softwoodcuttings. Enkianthus perulatus `J. L. Pennock` is an attractive shrubexhibiting white flowers which are typical of the species, and brightred fall foliage, thus making it ideal for use as an ornamental gardenplant. The most celebrated feature of `J. L. Pennock` is its distinctivefall coloration which can be readily distinguished from other Enkianthusvarieties by beginning to develop its fall coloration approximately twoweeks before other such plants, and retaining its fall color to the endof the duration of the fall season. The following combination ofcharacteristics are exhibited by this new variety and further enable itto be distinguished from other Enkianthus perulatus varieties:

(i) a dense, symmetrical growth habit that is wider than it is tall,possessing a strongly layered appearance; whereas typical Enkianthusperulatus plants are about as wide as they are tall;

(ii) a slow growth rate of 3 to 6 inches per year, making this plant anexcellent candidate for the small garden;

(iii) highly attractive fall coloration which, in Philadelphia, beginsas early as the first week of September, its leaves turning purplish,transforming to a bright red by about the end of October, and retainingcolor through the fall season with those of other members of thespecies; whereas typical Enkianthus perulatus varieties begin fallcoloration sometime in October, and transform to red, not bright red, bysometime in November.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The accompanying drawings illustrate the new Enkianthus perulatusvariety, `J. L. Pennock,` as grown in Philadelphia, Pa.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the new Enkianthus perulatus `J. L. Pennock`variety, which demonstrates the plant's winter branching habit.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are photographs of the new Enkianthus perulatus `J. L.Pennock` variety, which demonstrate the plant's summer flowering.

FIG. 4 is a photograph of the new Enkianthus perulatus `J. L. Pennock`variety, which demostrates the plant's summer foliage.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are photographs of the new Enkianthus perulatus `J. L.Pennock` variety, which demonstrate the plant's foliage at anintermediate stage of fall coloration (Greyed-Purple 183-B). At thisstage, which can begin as early as the first week of September, theplant no longer demonstrates its summer green foliage and has yet todemonstrate its peak autumn color, a bright red, which is fullydeveloped by the end of October.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are photographs of the new Enkianthus perulatus `J. L.Pennock` variety, which demonstrate the plant's foliage at its peakautumn coloration (Red 46-A).

FIG. 9 is a graphic depiction of the fall color development of severalEnkianthus perulatus plants growing at the Philadelphia arboretum in1992. The chart clearly shows the favorable characteristics of the new`J. L. Pennock` plant. At the fall color development Stage II, the plantbegins to have an effective foliage display in landscape. As shown inthe chart, `J. L. Pennock` reaches this point about two weeks earlierthan other Enkianthus plants at the arboretum, i.e. plants designated65-338 B, 81-224 A, 32-0468 A, and 32-0467 A. `J. L. Pennock` alsoreaches development Stage III about five days earlier than others. Atthis point, most leaves lose chlorophyll and turn to a clear, bright red(Red 45-A - 46-A). The `J. L. Pennock` plant retains fully-developedfall color until a hard frost hits, and defoliates, at which time itparallels other Enkianthus perulatus plants. The new `J. L. Pennock`plant thus has a significantly longer period of effective fall color inthe landscape.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small lettersignify that the name of the color, as used in common speech, is aptlydescriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designatevalues based on the R.H.S. Colour Chart published by The RoyalHorticultural Society of London, England.

The descriptive matter which follows pertains to the Enkianthusperulatus `J. L. Pennock` plants grown at The Morris Arboretum of TheUniversity of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa., and is believed to applyto plants of the variety grown under similar conditions of soil andclimate elsewhere.

Name: Enkianthus perulatus cv. `J. L. Pennock`.

Parentage: Unknown; selected from among several seedlings growing in acultivated research collection of Enkianthus perulatus plants.

PLANT

Internode length: Varies, depending upon age, vigor and culturalconditions; on the mature parent plant, internode length ranges from 1.0to 7.5 cm.; on younger plants, internode length can reach 15-20 cm.

Pruning and training: Can be pruned to maintain a formal, rounded habitor be pruned to induce greater branching by periodically removing someof the stems to the ground to induce additional growth; when plant iffully mature, it is essentially self-pruning.

Growth:

Type.--Shrubby.

Habit.--Globular/rounded.

Branching habit: Basally dominant with branches presented in whorls.

Size: About 2 m. tall and about 3 m. wide, at more than 40 years old.

Density: Dense.

Stem: Young shoot pale green, with red tinge (Greyed-Purple 185-A) onportion of stem exposed to full sun, turning to gray in second year;presence of hairs on stems varies from early season to late season;glabrous in late summer.

LEAVES

Type: Deciduous, and advanced before flowering.

Shape: Obovate broadly obovate.

Size: Averaging about 30 to 35 mm. in length and about 15 mm. in width.

Color:

Upper side.--Dull medium green (Green 143-A).

Underneath.--Light green (Yellow-Green 146-B).

Fall foliage: About the first week of September, the foliage begins toturn purplish (Greyed-Purple 183-A -- 185-A), later transforming to itspeak autumn color, a bright red (Red 45-A -- Red 46-A), by the end ofOctober.

Brilliance of upper surface: Absent.

Incisions on the margin: Present.

Hairs at the margin: Absent.

Curvature of margin: Absent.

Cross-section of blade: Flat.

Twisting of blade: Absent.

Shape of apex: Acute.

Shape of base: Cuneate.

Grooving of nerves on upper side: Little.

Undersurface: White hairs are present along the midrib.

FLOWERS

Inflorescence:

Number of flowers.--Few, about 2 to 5.

Habit.--Flowers are produced in umbels after the leaves.

Time of flowering.--Third week of April - first or second week of May.

Bud:

Attitude of scales.--Not adpressed.

Terminal inflorescence bud.--Shape: elliptic.

Pedicel: About 10 to 15 mm. in length.

Calyx:

Presence.--Present.

Type.--Not petaloid.

Pubescence.--Absent.

Flower:

Attitude.--Pendulous.

Diameter.--About 6 mm.

Maximum width of open folded flower.--About 4 mm.

Shape.--Urn-shape.

Type.--Single.

Fragrance.--Absent.

Color.--White.

Zygomorphy.--Absent.

Corolla:

Incisions of corolla.--Shallow.

Length.--Averaging about 5 to 6 mm.

Lobes.--Number: 5. Shape of apex: Curls up. Crenelation of margin:Absent. Undulation of margin: Absent. Hairs: Absent. Scales: Absent.

Stamens:

Number.--10.

Pubescence.--present.

Anthers: Prominent.

Pistil:

Type.--Not petaloid.

Length in comparison with stamens.--Longer.

Fruit: Typical of the species; produces no viable seed.

Table 1 below indicates the transformations in color of the newEnkianthus perulatus `J. L. Pennock` variety during the various stagesof fall color development, as grown in the Philadelphia arboretum in1990.

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                        Fall Color        Appearance of                                                                             Outside Inside                                  Development                                                                            Date     Whole Plant Leaves  Leaves                                  ______________________________________                                        Summer            medium green                                                                              Green   Green                                   Foliage                       146-A   137-A                                   Stage I  Sept. 4  green with  Green   Green                                                     red tinge   143-A   137-A                                                                 Red 53-A,                                                                     46-A                                            Stage II Sept. 25 maroon      Greyed- Green                                                                 Purple  137-A                                                                 183-A                                           Stage III                                                                              Oct. 25  red         Red     Greyed-                                                               45-A-46-A                                                                             Purple                                                                        187-B                                   Stage IV Nov. 19  brown tinge -                                                                             Red     Greyed-                                                   burnt by frost                                                                            45-A-46-A                                                                             Purple                                                                        183-B                                   Defoliation                                                                            Nov. 26  70% defoliated                                              ______________________________________                                    

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Enkianthus perulatus plantnamed `J. L. Pennock` as herein illustrated and described.